Partnering for Success: Understanding the Role of Your Clinical Trial Representative
When you join a clinical trial, you’re paired with a clinical trial representative who becomes your primary guide throughout the study. But what exactly does this role include—and how can you build a strong, effective partnership?
In this webinar, Mercedes Herrera, an experienced Clinical Research Coordinator with the UCI Center for Clinical Research, will walk participants through the key responsibilities of a clinical trial representative, what communication and support you can expect, and how to work together to ensure a smooth and informed trial experience.
Attendees will learn practical tips for navigating questions, reporting symptoms or concerns, and fostering open communication that helps both you and the research team succeed. This session is designed for anyone currently participating in a clinical trial or preparing to begin one who wants to feel more confident and supported throughout the process.
Mercedes Herrera joined the University of California, Irvine’s Neuromuscular Research Division over three years ago to contribute to the advancements of research. Her devotion for therapeutic advancements for myositis patients was strongly developed through her role as a Clinical Trial Representative, where she worked directly with patients that have Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies. Her role is to assist patients in identifying the most suitable clinical trial and provide ongoing support throughout the entire duration of the study. Her passion for patient advocacy and education inspired her to volunteer for The Myositis Association, where she can share her clinical trial experience to inform and empower patients.
Angel Gomez started working at Azusa Unified School District in 2000 until he became very ill, losing strength and mobility in December 2012. After being in the hospital for this condition, which led him in a wheelchair for the rest of the year, he was diagnosed with Dermatomyositis. Although he spent a lot of time in physical therapy learning to walk again, after nearly a year of sun exposure and developing new rashes, him and his dermatologist decided it was best for his health to retire again. Angel has experience being a clinical trial patient in multiple different investigational trials and can provide great insight from the patient’s perspective. In his free time, he likes to volunteer at the local little league coaching baseball, spending quality time with his family, and traveling whenever he can. He is married with three children; two are in college, and his youngest is in high school.
